Survival of Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens in weeds

Weeds are important alternative hosts of pathogens, responsible for the survival and spread of phytopathogenic bacteria. Our study evaluated the potential of weeds as hosts of Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens (Cff), causal agent of bacterial wilt, one of the main diseases of common beans. Cff survival was evaluated in the phyllosphere and in the rhizosphere of 21 weeds, in four experiments under field conditions, during the years 2018 and 2019. The aerial part of the plant was inoculated by spraying bacterial suspension (10⁷ cfu/ml) of Cff, while the soil of the growing pots was infested with the same suspension. Cff survival was evaluated every 7 days, for 70 days. The identity of the bacterium was confirmed by PCR with the specific primers CffFOR2 and CffREV4, from strains recovered from all samples. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that high temperatures and rainfall reduced Cff survival in the phyllosphere, while high temperatures reduced the survival of the bacterium in the rhizosphere. Our results demonstrated that Amaranthus viridis (family Amaranthaceae), Conyza bonariensis, Emilia fosbergii, Galinsoga parviflora, Gnaphalium purpureum (Asteraceae), Raphanus sativus, Lepidium virginicum (Brassicaceae), Commelina benghalensis (Commelinaceae), Ipomoea triloba (Convolvulaceae), Cyperus rotundus (Cyperaceae), Senna obtusifolia (Fabaceae), Digitaria insularis (Poaceae), Nicandra physalodes, and Solanum americanum (Solanaceae) are potential hosts for Cff. Their eradication in common bean fields is recommended, especially in fields with a history of bacterial wilt occurrence.     

Antioxidant Metabolism during Fruit Development of Different Acerola ( Malpighia emarginata D.C) Clones

The present research work describes the major changes in the antioxidant properties during development of acerola from five different clones. Ripening improved fruit physicochemical quality parameters; however, total vitamin C and total soluble phenols (TSP) contents declined during development, which resulted in a lower total antioxidant activity (TAA). Despite the decline in TSP, at ripening, the anthocyanin and yellow flavonoid content increased and was mainly constituted of cyanidin 3-rhamnoside and quercetin 3-rhamnoside, respectively. The activities of oxygen-scavenging enzymes also decreased with ripening; furthermore, the reduction in vitamin C was inversely correlated to membrane lipid peroxidation, indicating that acerola ripening is characterized by a progressive oxidative stress. Among the studied clones, II47/1, BRS 237, and BRS 236 presented outstanding results for vitamin C, phenols, and antioxidant enzyme activity. If antioxidants were to be used in the food supplement industry, immature green would be the most suitable harvest stage; for the consumer's market, fruit should be eaten ripe.     

Chemical properties of humic matter as related to induction of plant lateral roots

A series of humic matter samples isolated from a soil sequence, different oxisols, size‐fractionated from a vermicompost humic acid and subjected to chemical modifications, were characterized by CPMAS ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy. The relative signal areas in chemical shift regions of NMR spectra of the four sets of samples were analysed by principal component analysis (PCA). Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was applied to build a classification model, which allowed the recognition of humic matter according to its origin. The relationship between carbon species and biological activity of humic acids, as promoters of lateral root emergence, was obtained by applying PLS multivariate analysis. This showed that lateral root emergence was mostly related to NMR parameters such as the hydrophobicity index (HB/HI) and the 40–110 and 160–200 ppm chemical shift regions (hydrophilic carbon HI), while the content of hydrophobic (HB) carbon in humic samples was negatively correlated with induction of lateral root hair. Our results represent a step further in the structure‐bioactivity relationship of natural humic substances and confirm their role as plant root growth promoters.     

Boron Deficiency Inhibits Petiole and Peduncle Cell Development and Reduces Growth of Cotton

ABSTRACT

The effect of boron (B) on cotton growth and fruit shedding may be due not only to physiological or biochemical effects, but also to vascular tissue malformation. This experiment investigated petiole and floral peduncle anatomical alterations and growth of cotton supplied with deficient and sufficient B in nutrient solution. Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum cv. ‘Delta Opal’) plants were grown in solutions containing 0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0 μmol L^?1 of B from 22 to 36 d after plant emergence (DAPE). From 36 to 51 DAPE, B was omitted from the nutrient solution. Petioles from young leaves and floral bud peduncles (first position of the first sympodial) were sampled and the cross-section anatomy observed under an optical microscope. The number of vascular bundles of the petiole was decreased in B-deficient plants and the xylem was disorganized. Phloem elements in the peduncle vascular cylinder of B-deficient plants did not show clear differentiation. The few xylem elements that were formed were also disorganized. Modifications caused by B deficiency may have impaired B and photosynthate translocation into new cotton growth. Boron accumulation in the shoot of B-deficient plants suggested that there was some B translocation within the plant. It could be inferred that cotton growth would be impaired by the decrease in carbohydrate translocation rather than by B deficiency in the tissue alone.     

CHROMIUM TOXICITY IN HYBRID EUCALYPTUS (EUCALYPTUS UROPHYLLA S. T. BLAKE X GRANDIS W. HILL EX. MAIDEN) CUTTINGS

A greenhouse experiment was carried out to evaluate chromium (Cr) toxicity in urograndis (Eucalyptus urophylla S. T. Blake x grandis W. Hill ex. Maiden). Chromium nitrate was amended to Clark's nutrient solution (0.00, 0.04, 0.08, 0.16, 0.32 and 0.64 mmol L^?1 Cr), which was used to breed one urograndis cutting per pot (four replications). Regression analysis revealed that Cr rates of 0.08 mmol L^?1 or higher significantly decreased (P < 0.01) dry matter yield of shoot and root. Chromium accumulation order in plant was: root > stem > leaves. Critical Cr toxicity level in leaves was 0.74 mg kg^?1. Uptake and translocation of nutrients were affected differently by Cr. Mostly have their uptake reduced due to root damage. Magnesium, iron and manganese translocation increases, supposedly to maintain normal photosynthetic activity. Wilting is the main visual symptom of Cr toxicity. Urograndis may be suitable for contaminated sites phytostabilization and receive industrial waste fertilization.     

Effects of growth regulators on mineral nutrition of tomato

This research deals with the effects of exogenous growth regulators on mineral nutrition of the tomato plant (Lyeopersieon esaulentum Mill. cv. Miguel Pereira). To study the influence on mineral nutrition, (2‐chloroethyl) trimethylammonium chloride (CCC) , at concentration of 2,000 ppm, succinic acid‐2, 2‐dimethylhydrazide (SADH) (4,000 ppm), gibberellic acid (GA) (100 ppm), (2‐chloroethyl) phosphonic acid (CEPA) (200 ppm), indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA) (100 ppm) and 6‐furfurylamino purine (FAP) (500 ppm) were applied. Higher levels of nitrogen, calcium and magnesium occurred in the stem of plants sprayed with CCC. Treatments with FAP, SADH and CEPA caused an increase in nitrogen level in the stem. CEPA also increased calcium content in stems. These growth regulators did not alter the levels of macronutrients in the leaves in relation to control.     

Influence of potassium nutrition and the nitrate/ammonium ratio on the putrescine and spermidine contents in banana vitroplants

Potassium (K) is required in high doses by the banana (Musa sp.) plant and interacts with other nutrient elements in which banana tissues are maintained under in vitro condition as a consequence modifications in the plant metabolism take place mainly in nitrogen (N) compounds, such as proteins, amino acids, and secondary compounds. When K is present in concentrations lower than that required, diamines such as putrescine and poliamines are formed. This metabolic disorder can also be correlated with the presence of different inorganic N forms, such as nitrate (NO₃) and ammonium (NH₄), and the ratios between both ions as well. In order to follow the physiological performance of the interrelationships, K/putrescine and of the NO₃/NH₄ ratio in the tissue of banana vitroplantlets, shoot apex of two banana cvs. Nanica and Prata Ana were maintained in modified MS medium in the presence of six different doses of K: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 mM. After the period of tissue proliferation the cultures were transferred to rooting media containing the same different K doses. Dry matter, K, putrescine, and spermidine contents and their accumulation were determined in the shoots and roots of the vitroplantlets and in the shoot apex of the expiant donor cultivar as well as the corresponding values for the whole vitroplantlets calculated. The data were statistically analyzed. The contents and accumulations of putrescine and spermidine in banana tissues were enhanced as K concentration decreased in the medium: four times (0.19% of the dry matter) for cv. Nanica and eight times (0.25% of the dry matter) for cv. Prata Ana. This behavior was not only related to the K depletion but to the NO₃/NH₄ ratio as well.